126 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



Bahrite Dynasty, and the first Memluk sultan of Egypt. A copper 

 coin issued during his reign, is figured by Marcel, p. 158. 



In " A. D. 1257," the accession of Nooreddin Ali, the second Mem- 

 luk sultan of Egypt, took place. 



In " A. D. 1258" (Desvergers and Marcel), the Tartars under Hu- 

 lagu-Khan captured Bagdad, and the hereditary spiritual khalifate was 

 abolished. Three years later (Marcel), some members of the Abbas- 

 sid family took refuge in Egypt ; where one of them was proclaimed 

 khalif ; and where the highest religious office of the Muslims was 

 continued. 



In " A. D. 1259," the accession of Kotoz, the third Memluk sultan 

 of Egypt, took place. In the course of the year, he defeated the Tar- 

 tar army of Hulagu-Khan in Palestine (Marcel, p. 162). 



In " A. D. 1260," the accession of Beybars, the fourth Memluk 

 sultan of Egypt, took place. He exterminated the remnant of the 

 fanatical sect of the Bathenians or Hassassins (Marcel) ; constructed at 

 Cairo the mosque which bears his name ; also, various works of 

 public utility both here and at Alexandria, Damietta, and Rosetta. 

 His coins and constructions are remarkable for the presence of the 

 figure of the lion ; contrary to the precepts of the Muslim religion. 



The "ukhowan" of the Thousand and One Nights, may be com- 

 pared with the "achaouan" of Alpinus (PI. 39); which seems to be 

 the Pyrethrum parthenium. — This plant was seen by Sibthorp in 

 Greece ; and Forskal enumerates it, doubtfully, among the plants of 

 the mountain region of Yemen. 



There is however another "achaouan" used medicinally in Egypt, 

 the Cineraria maritima (Alpinus PI. 26). — I found this plant fre- 

 quent in the environs of Cairo ; but apparently indigenous. Sib- 

 thorp met with it in Rhodes. 



In " A. D. 1277," the accession of Barakah-Khan, the fifth Memluk 

 sultan of Egypt, took place.* 



The composition of gunpowder, long known in China, may have 

 been brought from that country by Marco Polo ; but its application 

 in warfare in casting projectiles, appears to have been chiefly prac- 

 tised in Europe. Gunpowder is mentioned by Roger Bacon in a 

 tract published in "A. D. 1278." 



* The x<xp(J*io/3oTavov of Nicolaus Myrepsus iii. 60, may be compared with the Lecmurus 

 cardiaca. — This plant is figured by Brunfels and by Fuchsius, 395; was seen in Greece 

 by Sibthorp and Bory de St. Vincent, but appears to have remained unknown in Egypt. 



